Wire-fence machine.



. LINCOLN.

WIRE FENCE MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED DEC.11, 1905.

Patented Oct. 27, 1908.y

12 SHEETS-SHEET l.

W. W. LINCOLN.

WIRE FENGB MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED 11110.11, 1905.

Patented 0011.27, 1908` l2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

W. W. LINCOLN.

WIRE FENCE MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED 13110.11, 1905.

@@Qp Patented 00in. 2?, 1908.

l2 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

W. W. LINCOLN WIRE FENCE MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED DEC.11, 1905.

12 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

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mu n I lul I W. W. LINCOLN.

WIRE FENCE MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED D110. 11, 1905.

Patented 0@1-..27,1908.

12 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

W. W. LINCOLN.

WIRE FENCE MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED 1130.11, 1905,

Patented Oct. 27, 1908.

12 SHEETS-SHEET 6.

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' WIRE FENCE MACHINE.

APPLIS-ANON FILED DEG. 11, 1905.

Patented Oct. 27, 1908. l2 SHEETSwSHBET 'Ix W. W. LINCOLN.

WIRE FENCE MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 1I, 1905.

902 ,422 Patented Oct. 27, 1908.

12 SHEETS-SHEET. a.

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WIRE FENCE MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED DEO.I1, 1905.

Patented Oct. 27, 1908.

12 SHEETS-SHEET 9.

W. LINCOLN.

WIRE PEN CE MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED DB0. 11, 1905.

Patented Oct. 27, 1908. 12 SHEETS-SHEET 10`.

W. W. LINCOLN.

WIRE FENCE MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED DBO.11, 1905.

Patented 001;.27, 1908.

12 SHEETS-SHEET 11.

Ime/Mor;

W. W. LINCOLN.

WIRE EENGE MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED DBG.11, 1905.

Patented 0015.27, 1908. l2 SHEETS-SHEET 12.

7x1, 44 JMW 'UNITED sTATEs PATENT oEEicE.

WARD W. LINCOLN, OF ROCK FALLS, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO JOSEPH M. DENNING, OF CEDAR RAPIDS, IOWA.

wma-FENCE MACHINE.

To all 'whom 'it may concern.'

Be it known that I, WARD W. LINCOLN, a citizen of the United States of America, and a resident of Rock Falls, in the county of Whiteside and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Wire-Fence Machines, of which the following is a speciiication.

This invention relates to that class of Wire fence machines in which the respective ends of individual stay Wire sections are twisted and coiled around adjacent strand-wires, and the coils interlocked together, in the formation of the usual rectangular mesh wire fence. And the present improvement has for its object, in themain, to provide a simple and efficient structural formation and combination of parts by means of which the wire components of the fence have continuous travel through the-mechanism during the operation of forming the fence.

Other and minor objects of the present improvement are to provide sim le and eective mechanisms for feeding t e stay forming wires to the cutting mechanisms; for cutting ofic the stay forming wire sections into different and predetermined lengths; for eliecting a simultaneous operation of the twin series of twister or coiler heads, and for crimping the strand wires at the sides of the knots or coils of the stay wire sections thereon, andimmediately after thefence fabric leaves the Weaving heads, all as Will hereinafter more fully appear and be more particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings illustrative of the present invention: Figure 1 is a side elevation, showin, the main frame, etc., in dotted lines and t e connecting gear wheels in full lines. Fig. 2 is a detail elevation oi" the commutators of the rotary carrier and rotary weaving heads of the machine. Fig. 3 is a general longitudinal section. Fig. 4 is a front elevation, with parts removed on line :c-:t, Fig. 3. Fig. 5, is a transverse sectional elevation on line x-x, Fig. 3. Fig. 6 is a de tail plan of the rotary feed mechanism for the stay forming wires, and the straightening mechanism therefor. Fi 7 is an axial detail sectional elevation oi the rotary carrier and weaving heads, and their accessories. Fig. 8 is a detail sectionalelevation of the feeding and cutting mechanisms for the stay forming wires. Fig. 9 is a detail horizontal section of the saine on line :xL-az, Fig. 8.

Specication of Letters Patent.

Application filed December 11, 1905.

' around the strand wires.

Patented Oct. 27, 1908.

Serial No. 291,217.

Fig. 10 is a detail horizontal section on line ac3-x3, Fig. 8, of a stationary knife block of the cutting mechanism. Fig. 11 is a detail transverse-section of the rotary stay wire section carrier. Fig. 12 is a detail longitudinal section of the saine. Fig. 13 is an end elevation of one of the electro-magnetic holders of the stay wire section carrier. Fig. 14 is a detail transverse section of the rotary weaving head of the machine. Fig. 15 is a detail lan view of the same. Fig.- 16 is a detail ongitudinal section of the same, on line :t4-m4, Fig-15. of one end of the same. elevation of one of the operating electromagnets of the gripper jaws of the rotary weavin heads. Figs. 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, and 24 are etail lan views illustrating the various steps in tiie formation of the interlocking knots or coils of the stay wire section ends Figs. 25, 26, 27, 28, and 29 are companion face views, additionally illustrative of the saine. Fig. 30 is a diagram illustrating the movement of a coiler or twister pin in making the interlocking Fig. 18 is a detail knot aforesaid. Fig. 31 is an unfolded view of the endless cam groove by which the cutting mechanisms for the stay wire sections are operated. Fig. 32 is a similar view ofthe endless cam groove by which a turning movement of the stay wire section holders is effected. Fig. 33 is a similar view of the endless cam groove by which the carryin rails of the twister heads are moved to an from each other. Fig. 33a is a similar view of a modification of said cam. Fig. 34 is a similar view of the 'endless cam groove by which the rotation ci the twister or coiler heads is effected. Fig. 34a is a similar view of a modiication of said cam. Fig. 35 is a detail plan view of a series of the twister heads illustrating a modified arrangement of parts for producing a simpler form of fence knot. Fig. 36 is a companion face view of the same. Fig. 37 is an elevation of a section of fence formed by the modified mechanism shown in Fi s. 35 and 36.

imilar numerals of reference indicate like parts in the diierent views.

Referring to the drawings :-1 represents a pair of side plates suitably connected together to constitute the stationary supporting frame in which the different operative mechanisms of the machine are supported.

2 are a series of wire straightening mechan- Fig. 17 is a detail plan view4 form the stay wire sections of the fence fabricv are drawn and straightened in their passage to the feeding and cutting mechanisms.

4 are a series of intermittent feed mechanisms, hereinafter described in detail, by which the series of wires, from which stay wire sections are to be formed, are intermittently fed to the series of cutting mechanisms.

5v are the series of cuttin mechanisms, hereinafter described in detai by which the last mentioned wires are severed into proper lengths to constitute the stay wire sections of the fence fabric.

6 is a otary carrier head journaled in the main frame 1, in parallel and adjacent relation to the aforesaid series of cutting mechanisms 5 and intermediate of the same and the rotary weaving head of the machine. Such carrier head is provided with longitudinal rows of automatic gripping or holding jaws, hereinafter described in detail, which individually grip or engage the series of stay wire sections as they are severed by the aforesaid series of cutting mechanisms, and transport and deliver the same to corresponding longitudinal rows of gripping jaws carried by the rotary weaving head of the machine.

7 is the rotary weaving head of the machine, journaled in the main frame 1, and

provided with longitudinal rows of gripping jaws and longitudinal ro'ws of rotary coiler or twister heads, hereinafter described in detail, and which are adapted to engage and twist or coil the ends of the stay wire sections around the series of strand wires in the operation of making a rectangular or squaremesh wire fence.

8 is the strand wire crimping mechanism, hereinafter described in detail, and through which the fence fabric passes as it leaves the rotary weaving head, and by means of which the strand wires are crimped at each side of the convolutions of the stay wire sections upon said strand wires, with a view to pre.- vent creeping of the stay wire sections upon the strand wires in the subsequent handling and use of the fence fabric.

9 are a series of pull out wheels of anyl usual construction adapted for positive engagement with the fence fabric. Such wheels are mount-ed on a common carrying shaft 10, journaled in the main frame, and are adapted'to engage the fence fabric as it leaves the wire crimpinflr mechanism 8, and afford assistance in pulling the fence fabric through said mechanism, as well as the strand wires through the straightening mechanism 2, and around the weaving. head 7, before referred to. 1n the construction shown the fence fabric is arranged to lap around`the greater part of the peripheries of said pull out wheels 9 with a view to aord a substantial and equalizing pulling out stress upon the fence fabric.

11 is an idler drum under which the fence fabric passes on its way to the reeling mechanism.

12 is the reeling mechanism, lof any usual and suitable construction, arranged at the delivery end of the machine, and adapted to reel up the fence fabric as it comes from the weaving and crimping mechanisms before referred to.

The series of intermittent stay wire feeding mechanisms 4, before referred to, comprise in detail a structural formation and arrangement of parts as follows 13 are a series of feeding wheels carried by a common carrying shaft 14 intergeared with 'the shaft of the rotary carrier head 6 by gear wheels 15 and 16, so as to have constant rotation in unison therewith. Such feeding wheels are located at graduated distances apart corresponding to a like arrangement of the coiler or twister heads of the rotary weaving heads 7, and each of said feeding wheels `is provided with a continuous flange 17 at one end and with a series of flange plates 18 at the other end to provide a peripheral channel for the reception of a bend or bight in the stay forming wire which-is to be fed. Such bend or bight in the wire may consistof a quarter bend, or one or more circular loops or coils in said wire, in accordance with the size and resiliency of the wire employed. 19 are a series of tension disks or rolls carried by a com- 'nion carrying shaft 20 intergeared with the ing wires in position therebetween, and set up a frictional adhesion of thesaid wires upon the peripheries of the feeding wheels between the continuousl flange 17 and flanged plates 18 and a positive feed of the wires due to the extended frictional adhesion thus set up between said wires and the peripheries of said feeding wheels. Inf such feedin mechanism, the series of strai hten ing rol s 3, or other e uivalent means or retarding the travel of t e stay-forming wires,

are necessary and coactin elements in effecting the practical operation of the feedingA mechanisms; and the operation of the presl spending in number and arrangement with ent mechanism is identical with an ordinary capstan for pulling heavy loads, a Wire feeding Wheel 13 of the present mechanism representing the capstan drum the Wire straightening mechanism 3 representing the load to bemoved by the capstan, and the tension disk or roll 19 representing the operator pull.- ing on the free end of the capstan rope to govern the amount of frictional adhesion of the capstan rope around the periphery of the capstan drum. In order to render such wire feeding operations intermittent in their action, more or less of the' peripheries of the respective tension disks 19 will be cut away, as illustrated in Fig. 8, so as to afford a greater or less duration of the binding and feeding action just described, and so that each individual feeding mechanism of the series may feed to its individual cutting mechanism sufficient wire to have an individual stay wire section of a required and predetermined length. 23 is a stationary rail arranged in the main frame 1, and having a vertical face arranged tangentially to the peripheries of the aforesaid series of feeding wheels 13 to constitute a vertical breast or abutment for the ends of the stay forming wires, as hereinafter set forth. 24 are a series of holding levers, corresponding in number and arrangement with the series of feeding wheels and tension disks just described. Each of said holding vlevers is individual to a feeding wheel and tension disk, and is adapted for engagement, in manner hereinafter described, with the individual stay forming wire engaged by such feeding wheel and tension disk. 25 is a yielding or resilient toe car ried by the lower arm of each lever 24 and adapted in the operation `of the mechanism to press the free end of a stay forming wire against the breast rail 23, and hold the same in proper position during the inactive condition of an individual feeding mechanism. is a cam groove formed in the side of each tension disk 19, aforesaid, and adapted for operative engagement with the upper arm of a holding lever 24, and such cam groove is so positioned as to cause the resilient toe 25 of the lever to engage a stay forming wire during an inactive condition of the individual feeding mechanism and prevent a further downward movement of the stay forming wire to the cutting mechanism. 27 are a series of hard abutment plugs inserted in the breast rail 23', to resist wear and abrasion due totihe passage of the stay forming wires afore sai The series of intermittent stay wire cutting mechanisms 5, before referred to, com prise in detail a structural formation and arrangement of parts as follows: 28 'are a series of stationary vertical osts supported between the underside of tile breast rail 23, and

a lower rail 29 of the main frame, and correto be described. 4transverse reclprocation 1n bearings in the t e series of feeding mechanisms above described. 30 are a series of stationary shear blocks secured in a vertically adjustable manner on the vertical posts 28, by clamping screws, as shown in Figs. 8 and 10. Each of said shear blocks is provided with a vertically apertured guide bushing 31, and with a cutter blade 32 at its lower end. 33 are a series of vibratory shear heads journaled on the vertical posts 28 beneath the stationary shear blocks 30, and adapted in t eir vibratory movements to shear off fro the stay forming wire sections of the proper length. 34 are a series of sleeves surrounding the vertical posts 28 and inserted between the shear heads 33 and the lower rail 29 aforesaid to support said shear heads in proper vertical position. ln practice such sleeves 34 will have diHerent vertical heights, so that the vertical locations of the aforesaid shear heads and blocks can be raised or lowered to compensate for the different lengths in a series of stay wire sections which are severed at a single eriod in the operation of the machine; for the longest stay wire section, the sleeve 34 of the individual cutting mechanism therefor Will be of sufficient height to support such cutting mechanism in a position immediately beneath the breast rail 23, .as illustrated in Fig, 8 g while for the shortest stay wire section no sleeve 34 need be used, but instead the individual cutting mechanism therefor may rest directly upon the transverse lower rail 29 above described. 35 is a transverse shaft, see Fig. 5, j ournaled on the main frame 1, and which may be one of the pair of carrying shafts 35, 36 of the rotary crimping mechanism hereinafter described. 37 is a cam wheel mounted on the shaft 35 and provided with a peripheral cam groove of the form shown in an unfolded condition, Fig. 31. 38 is a cam lever pivoted to the main frame, with one arm in operative enga ement with the cam groove of the cam Whee 37, and with its other arm operatively connected to the transverse bar or shaft now 39 is a bar or shaft having` main frame 1, and operatively engaged by the cam lever 38, aforesaid. 40 are a series of blocks carried by the bar or shaft 39 and individual to the series of stay cutting mechanisms heretofore described. Each of said blocks is formed with an elongated vertical channel 41, as illustrated in Fig. 8, and in which the rear end of the arm 42 of an individual vibratory shear head 33, has operative engagement, in a manner topermit of the before described vertical adjustment of said shear head without disturbing the operative engagement of the parts.

The rotary carrier head 6, before referred to, and by means of which the series of stay wire sections, as severed by the series of cutting mechanisms, are engaged, carried around and delivered to the rotary weaving head,- comprises in detail a structural formation and arrangement of parts as follows :'-43 is a transversely arranged supporting shaft, journaled in the main frame 1, and intergeared with the carry-shaft of the rotary weaving head 7 by gear wheels 44 and 45, so as to have constant rotation in unison there with. 46 are a series of rails sup orted lin parallel and concentric relation to t e axis of the shaft 43 by end supporting heads or disks 47, secured tothe shaft 43. Each of said rails is formed with a series of radial journal orifices corresponding in number and arrangement with the series of cutting mechanisms heretofore described, and radapted to afford bearings for the radially arranged hubs of an individual row of stay wire sec` tion grippers or holders, now to be described.

48 arethe series of rows of stay Wiresection gripper or holder heads above referred to each of which is formed with a cylindrical hub portion having bearing in an individual bearing orifice of a rail 46 aforesaid, and 'confined in place by confining collars 49 and 5() on its respective ends, as illustrated in Figs. 11 and 12. 51 is a segmental gear formed in the peri hery of the hub just referred to, and adapter for operative enga ement with a transversely extending gear ar or rack 52, common to a sin le transverse row of theV holder or gripper heads and adapted to impart simultaneous partial rotation to such row of heads. 53 1s a stationary ca'n ring secured to the main frame 1, so as to surround the carrying shaft 43 of the above vmechanism; and such cam ring is rovided with an endless cam groove, of the' orm shown in an unfolded condition in Fig. 32, and in which rollers on the ends ofthe respective rackl bars 52 have engagement to afford operative connection between said parts. The arrangement is such that an orbital travel of such rack bars around the cam ring 53 will cause a reciprocation of such rack bars at prcper intervals, as hereinafter more fully state in the operation of the machine, to impart a desired artial rotary movement to the gripper or ho der heads 46, to the extent of a quarter turn, and a subsequent return to the starting or normal position. 54 are radially projecting jaws arranged at the outer end of each hub portion of a gripper or holder head 48, and provided with V-shaped channels or re-l cesses in their outer ends to receive and hold the stay wire section, `and to such end the circular path traversed by said jawsis made to intersect or closely approach the ath of the stay Wires as they depend from t e cutmechanisms aforesaid. In the present improvementl each of the jaws 54 constitutes o ne pole piece of an electro-magnet 55 so that when said electro-magnet is electrically energized the said jaws will engage and holdthe stay wire sections during the period of such energization. Said electro-magnets will be of any usual construction, and will be attached, on the outer ends of thev aforesaid hub portions of the holder heads 48, in an adjustable manner by set screws A56 passing through curvedslots 57 in the base portion of said electro-magnets, and screwing into the outer ends of said hub portions, as illustrated in Figs. 11 and 13. 58 isa cylindrical commutator as shown in Figs. 2, 4 and 7 carried by the shaft 43, with its respective commutator bars individually connected to the respective rows of electro-magnets 55, in any usual and approved manner. 59 is a multiple commutator brush or contact member, carried on the main frame 1, and connected in any usual manner with a source of electro-motive force. In the type of fence machine shown in the present drawings, such commutator brush 59 is adapted to contact with three of the-eight commutator barsv of the commutator 58, so that the electro-magnets 55, within the range between the stay wire cutting mechanisms and the point at which the stay wire sections are delivered to the rotary weaving head, will be electrically energized to firmly hold 'the stay wire sections in the holding jaws 54, as will more fully ap ear in the description of the peration of t e machine.

The rotary weaving head 7, before referred to, and by means of which the ends of the stay wire sections are coiled or twisted around the strand wires of the fence fabric, comprises in detail a formation and arrangement of parts as follows 60 is a transversely arranged shaft j ournaled in the main frame 1, and intergeared with the shaft 43 of the carrier head by gears 44 and 45, before described, and also intergeared with the carrying shafts of the crimping mechanism 8, as hereinafter described. 61 are end supporting disks or rings secured inseparated relation on the shaft 60, and connected together by a seriesl of bars or staves 62, of an angular form in cross section, to constitute a skeleton supporting frame for the operative parts of the weaving mechanism, as shown in- Figs. 3, 4, 7, 14 and 17 of the drawings. 63 are a series of pairs of rails in which the multiple rows of coiler or twister heads of the present invention are mounted. Each pair of said rails is connected at their respective ends to the peripheries of the end disks 61 aforesaid, in a manner which admits of limited and simultaneous reciprocation of each pair of said rails to and from each other, by means as follows 64 are toothed racks on the respective ends of each pair of rails 63, aforesaid, and having an opposed and parallel relation to each other, as shown in Flgs. 4, 7.*and 17. 65 are a series of toothed pinions journaled between the pairs of racks 64, and having operative engagement therewith, so that a para tial rotation of the pinions in one direction or the other will impart simultaneous movements in op osite directions to the racks, and to the ralls 63, by which they are carried. 66 are a series of cam arms, individual to the aforesaid pinions 65 and provided at their free ends'with cam rollers or like means for operative engagement in the cam grooves of the cams by which automatic movements of the cam arms and pinions aforesaid are effected. 67 are a pair of stationary cam rings arranged in concentric relation to the axis of the shaft 60, and provided with counterpart endless cam grooves on their inner surfaces of the form shown in an unfolded condition in Fig. 33, for engagement with the cam arms 66, aforesaid. The arrangement is such that an orbital travel of the rails .63,

and the above described accessories, in relation to the stationary cam rings 67, will cause a reciprocation of said rails to and from each other, as pairs, at the proper intervals, as more fullyset forth in the operation of the machine, to advance and retract the twister heads in the operation of coiling the ends of the stay wire sections upon the strand wires of the fence fabric. 68 are segmental shoes upon the mainframe', in which the lower portions of the peripheries of the cam rings 67 rest and are supported in a manner to per# mit of a turning adjustment of said cam rings in effecting the proper timing of the mechanism. See Figs. 3, 4 and 7. 69 are the coiler or twister heads of the machine, journaled in rows in the series of rails 63, aforesaid, as illustrated in Figs. 4, 7, 14, 15, and 16, with the series of coiler or twister heads in each row corresponding in number and transverse arrangement with the before-described stay wire feeding, cutting and 4carrying mechanisms. Each coiler or twister head 69 is formed with the usual axial and open side runway 70 for the reception and passage of an individual strand wire; with a central pinion portion 71, for operative engagement with the rack-bar hereinafter described; with end bearing necks 72 affording bearings for the twister head in the rail 63,and with one orv more coiler or twister pins 73 as hereinafter more particularly set forth in the description of the operations of coiling or twisting the stay wires uponv the strand wires in the formation of different varieties of the fence. 74 are a series of rack-bars extending the length of the series of rails 63, and each rack bar has operative engagement with the pinion -port1ons 71 of one row of twister heads 69, and is adapted to impart simultaneous rotation to such row of twister heads. 75 are stationary cam rings secured to the main frame 1 in concentric relation to the shaft of the above mechanism, and provided with counterpart endless cam grooves on their inner surfaces, of the form shown in an unfolded condition in Fig. 34, for operative engagement with cam rollers 76 secured to the ends of the rack bars 74', as illustrated in Figs. 4 and 7; and the arrangement is such that an orbital travel of the rack bars 74, with relation Ato said cam rings 75, will cause a simultaneous' turning movement of the rows of Vtwister heads 69, in one direction or the other, and

at proper intervals, as hereinafter more fully I set forth in that part of the operation of the machine involving the movements of the twister heads.

j 'The preferred form'of the present mechanism, illustrated in Figs. 1 to 34 inclusive, is intended to produce the form of knot of the stay section wire ends upon the strand wires shown in courseof formation-in Figs. 1,9 to 29 inclusive, and tosuch end each pair of rows of twister heads 69 will have an o posed relation in each pair of opposin rai s 63, before described, and each twister ead will be provided with a single twister or coilerpin 73, as illustrated more articularly in Fig. 15.

In Figs. 35 and) 36 is shown a modified arrangement of the twister or coiler heads, and in which use is made of single rows of twister heads rovided with duplicate twister or coiler pms 73 instead of the before-described pairs of o posed rows of twister heads provided witfi single twister pins 73, the sin le rows of twister heads operating to weave t e ordinary form of wire fence shown in Fig. 37, in a manner hereinafter set forth in the operation of the machine.

77 are a series of fixed standards secured in rows to the before described bars or staves 62, at points midway between the twister heads 69 of each row of the same, as illustrated more particularly in Figs. 7 and 16.

78 are a series of pairs of ripper levers pivoted to the series of stan ards 7 7 with their up er arms forming gripper jaws be-r` tween w ich the stay wire sections are received and gripped in the operation of the mechanism.

79 are a series of springs arranged between the lower arms of the series of pairs of griping levers 78 with anormal tendency to orce the gripping jaws aforesaid together, in a manner to permit the stay wire sections being forced between them bythe stay wire carrier aws 54- before described, as individual rows o said gripper jaws and carrier jaws move towards a common and intersecting path in the actual operation of the machine.

80 is an armature carried by the lower end of each gripper lever 78 aforesaid.

81 is an e ectro-magnet secured to a bar or stave 62, aforesaid, and ada ted when energized to exert a powerful pul ing action upon lts gripper lever 78 and effect aforcible hol ing of the,stay wire section by the ripper jaws of a ir of said levers during t e period in whic their electro-magnets are so energized.

82 is a cylindrical commutator carried by the shaft 60 with its respective commutator bars individually connected to the electrotween the two supporting frames aforesaid magnets 81 of each row of gripper levers 78 in any usual and approved manner.

83 is a multiple commutator brush or cone tact member as shown in Figs. 2 and 7 carried on a station ry part of the machine, and connected in any usual manner with a source of electro-motive force. In the construction shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings, such commutator brush 83 is adapted to contact with three of the eight commutator bars of the commutator 82, but suclirange of contact may be increased or diminished as the judgment of the constructor or the nature of the wire used to form the stay Wire sections may indicate; the requirement being that the stay wire sections must be positively held against endwise slip until suflicient initial twisting of the stay Wire ends around the strand Wires has been effected to preventany tendency to an endwise slip of the stay wire sections when the gripping jaws 78, are released.

The crimping mechanism 8, before referred to, comprises in detail a formation and arrangement of parts as follows: 35 and 36 are a pair of transversely arrangedshafts, heretofore referred to, journaled in the main frame 1, and intergeared together by gears 84 and 85, and by idler gear 86, with the gear 45 of the carrying sh'aft 60, of the weaving head 7 of the machine. 87 are a series of disks or collars secured in separate relation on the respective shafts 35 and 36, and connected together by a series of rails or staves 88, to constitute a series of separated skele- 'ton supporting frames upon each of said shafts, for the series of crimping dies, now to be described. 89 are the series of crimping dies secured to the outer faces of the rails 88, with their respective die faces in concentric relationto the axis of the respective shafts 35 and 36, and so that in their orbital travel around their-shafts, the vopposed die faces will intermesh, as illustrated in Fig. 3, to impart a crimp to the strand wire at the respective sides of the knob or twist of the sta wire upon said strand Wire. To such en each die will be provided with a central depressed portion, to receive the knob or twist just referred to, and with prongs or teeth, at each side of said central depressed portion, to form the last referred to crimps in the strand wires; such being an ordinary construction in the present class of wire fence machines.

With the above described type of rotary crimping mechanisms, much difficulty has been met, owing to the springing apart of thc Carrying shafts 35 and 36 under the stress required 1n forming the crimps, and a consegiient imperfect formation of the same.

ith a view to remedy such defect, one part of the present improvement involves a structural formation and arrangement of parts as follows z-90 are bearing shoeslocated be- .tlie st ay wire sectiois.

and adapted to have bearing upon the carrying shafts 35 and 36, as shown in Fig. 5 9]. are girders arranged in parallel relation to the shafts 35 and 36, and in a plane beyond the orbit ofthe crimping dies 89, and adapted to carry the bearing shoe 90, above described. 92 are tie bolts connecting said girders together, and l.arranged at the respective ends of said girders and out of the path of the fence fabric passing through the crimping mechanism. By such construction the shafts 35 and 36 are rigidly braced together against any tendency` to spread apart under a heavy strain, and without any interference with the passage of the fence fabric through 'the crimping mechanism. 93 and 94 are gears connecting the carrying shaft `10 of the series of pull o-ut wheels 9 with the gear 85 of the crimping mechanism so as to have constant rotationin unison therewith.

The operation of the machine is as follows: The series of strand Wires from suitable reels or other supply source are drawn through the series of straightening rolls 2, and thence to the rotary weaving head 7, where such strand wires arev received in the open side axially extending runways of the series of twister heads 69 peripherally mounted on said weaving head 7. At the same time the series of stay forming Wires are drawn through the series of straightening rolls 3, and from thence pass to and arourd the series of feeding yWheels 13 of the intermittert wire feed mechanism 4 and between said feedinfy wheels 13 and the terision'disks 19, as set forth in the prior description of such mechanism, to be fed in an automatic nia?,- rer to thc intermittent cutting mecharisms 5, by means of which stay wire sectiors arc severed from such stay forming Wires. Simultaneous with the cutting of a series of stay Wire sectiors, as aforesaid, a row o'f the gripper or carrier jaws 54 of the rotary carrier head 6, moves into a position midway the. length of the section of stay Wires being severed, and at the same. time becomes electrically erergized, through tht` irstrumeie tality ofthe commutator cylinder and brush 58 ard 59, to magnetically .engage and hold W ith the continued rotation of the carrier head 5, and during a quarter turn of the same, the row of gripper or carrier jaws 54 are given a quarter turn upon their individual axesvby means of the segmental gears 51, rack bar 52, and cam rinor 53, as heretofore described in the description of the carrier head, and so that be gripper or carrier jaws 54.

fore such row of reach their point `of intersection or delivery with or to the gripper or holding jaws 78 of the rotary weaving head 7 they will have turned the series of stay wire sections in a direction transverse to the series of strand wires on the weaving head.- As the said to a continued energization of their 'electroaction will be to force the series of stay wire .the required length to which intersects a like circular path of the i gripper jaws 78 of the weaviig head, their sections into the said gripper jaws as the two series of jaws move into such intersecting path. The forcing ofthe stay wire sections into the jaws 78 is effected against the stress ofthe springs 79, and with such litroduction of the stay wire sectior s, the eiergizing electric curreit is out off from the electro-magnets 55 of the row of jaws 54 by the coinmutator 58 while, coincident therewith, the commutator 82 completes the circuit of the electro-magnets 81 of the row of gripper jaws 78 to effect a substatial grip of suoli jaws 78 upon the sections of the stay wire held therein. The holding faces of the jaws 78 are arranged slightly inclined to the axis of the weaving head 7 so that adjacent ends of the stay wire .sections may project ast each other without interfererce, as illustrated more particularly in Fig. 15; ard in order that the stay wire sections may have form the respective twists or knots upon the lowermost fence strands which, in the present class of fences, are arranged as close together as three inches, the aws 78 next to the delivery7 end of the mac ire will be partly cut away to afford room for such stay wire erds, as clearly shown in Figs. 15 and v16. lith the stay wire sections firmly held in the jaws 78, due

magnets 81, and with the respective ends of the stay wire sections extending across the strand wires, the coiling or twister pis 73, of twister heads 69, `engage the er ds of the stay wire sectioiis to wrap the same around the strand wires Such descriptif applies to the usual wrappirg of the stay wire sectioiA s upon the upper ai d lower strand wires of the fence fabric where only i* Vdividual twister heads will be required to effect the operation, and needs ro special description other than that which will appear in the following description of the formation of the kr ots uponv the intermediate strand wires.

For the stay wire sections engaging the intermediate strand wires of the fence fabric, and in the formation of a particular interlocked knot or twist, the preferred form of the machine as heretofore described will be employed, and a pair of opposed twister heads i rack bars 74, which in Ytance to remove the coiler pins 73 into 69', each having a single twister or coiler pin 73, will be used to form each knot by a cycle of operations as -ioilowsz Under the inlinenee of the cams 67, the pair of carrying rails 63 are iioved towards each other from the initial position shovm in Fig. 19, to effect a corresponding initial movement of the air of twister heads 69 together, and so that t eir individual soiling pins 73 will overlie the re?, spective ends or the two stay wire sections i which are to oe knoted or twisted around a pirticular strand wire, as shown in Fig. 20. ith the coiling pins 7 3, overlying the stay Wire ends as above set forth, the cams 75 are adapted to impart'movement to a pair of the turn imparts to each twister head 69, and their coiling .pins 73, a partial rotation approximately 73 as illustrated `infdiagram view, Fig. 30. Such coiling ins turn impart a partial downward ben to the respecti e stay wire ends, as shown in Figs. 21 and 26; coincident therewith the twister heads and carrying rails continue to advance'towards each other, so that while the above mentionedv bends are being formed in the ends of the stay wire sections, the said bent ends are forced in opposite directions and cross or intersect each other as shown in Figs. 21, 22and 28. The twister heads 69 then receive a partial reverse vrotation approximating '8 as indicated in diagram view, Fig. 80, under the influence of the the cams 75, and in order to free the coiling pins from the bends just formed in the stay wire ends; after which the carrying rails 63, and twister heads 69, under the influence of the cams 67 move apart a sufhcient diat s which do not intersect the just formed ends in the stay wire sections. When moved a art sufficiently the twister heads, under t e influence of the cams 75, make partial forward rotations approximating 134, as indicated in diagram view, Fig. 30. The carrying rails 63 and twister heads 69, under the iniluence of the cams 67, are then moved towards each other, so that each respective ceiling in will engage the respective stay wire end which had7 been bent as before described by the other coiling pin. The direction of rotation of the twister heads again reverses and under the influence of the cani 75 said twister heads make one and one half forward revolutions, approximately, to effect a corresponding coiling vof the stay wire ends upon the strand wire, and complete the interlocked knot. During such coiling or twisting of the stay wire ends upon the strand wire, 'the carrying rails and twister heads move apart under the influence of the cams 67, and in accordance with the gradual formation of the knot. `With such completion of the knot, the twister heads, under the influence of the cams 75, make a reverse rotation, ap roximating one full turn, in order to be in t eir initial position first described, ready for a. fresh cycle of operations required in the formation of a succeeding knot.

l ner, se that two or more transverse series of fence knots may be in course of formation at j wires, and a rack-bar in mesh with the one and the Sametime. The resulting adtwister heads of each longitudinal row of Vantages therefrom are that ample time can l twister heads, the rack-bars of two companbe aoided to form the knots; a correspondion rows having reciprocating movements in ingr decrease in. the strain on the mechanism, opposite directions at the same time to actuan'd anincrease in the amount of fence fabate in succession two rows of companion ric produced in a given time. j twister heads in opposite directions and coil At any period after lthe stay wire sections the ends of the stay wire sections around the are sufficiently coiled around the strand strand wires, substantially as described. wires to hold, the circuit may be broken on 2. In a wire fence machine, a revoluble the electro-magnets 81 of the particular row frame, twister heads mounted on the surface of gripper jaws 78 in order that the finished of the frame in pairs'of opposite rows and eirpoition of the fence fabric will be free `to be tending around the frame and also longitudidrawii away from engagement with said nally of theframe, each twister head having gripper jaws in a continued operation of the an acting end face adapted to engage the machine. ends of the sections of a transversefstay wire The finished fence fabric leaving the weavand coil said ends around the strand wires, a ing head 7, as above stated, passes through rack-bar in mesh with the twister heads of the crimping mechanism 8, which criinps the strand wires at each side of the knots, and from thence to the pull out wheels 9 and under the idler drum 11 to the reeling mechanism 12, as usual in wire forming machines of sion two rows of companion twister heads in the present class. opposite directions and coil the ends of the In the operation of the modified form of stay wire sections around the strand wires, the mechanism shown in Figs. 35 and 36, for j and means for inaugurating the opposite the production of a wire fence of the conmovement of the successive airs'of rackstruction shown in Fig. 37, the arrangement bars at the same point in their travel to faand operation of the different mechanisms cilitate the actuation'of said twister heads, will be substant-ially the same as above set substantially as described. forth, the exceptions being as follows:` 3. In a wire fence machine, a revoluble The substitution frmthe rotary, carrier frame, head 6, heretofore described, of the particuets supported on said frame, two com anion lar type of ordinary wire feeding mechanisms rack-bars longitudinally movable t rou in which the stay wire sections are fed in a each row of brackets, two opposite slotted lateral and inclined direction, so as to lace twister heads revolubl mounted in each one adjacent stay wire end above, an the bracket and each in mesh with its'operative other adjacent stay wire end beneath a j rack-bar, each twister head having an acting strand wire. The substitution forv the com end face adaptedto engage the ends of the panion rows of twister heads heretofore desections of a transverse stay wire and coil scribed, of individual rows of twister heads, said ends around the strand wires, and means with each twister head rovided with duplio erating at a given point in the rotation of cate coiling pins 73', as shown in Figs. 35 and the frame for reciprocating the two compan- 36. A modification ofthe cams 67 from the ion rack-bars in form shown in Fig. to that shown in Fig. same time and thereby rotate the two coin- 33a to effect a backing off, of the twister panion twister heads in opposite directions heads as the coiling of the fence knots profor each twister head to coil the overlappin gresses, instead of the more complex moveend of a transverse stay wire section around ments of the twister heads, heretofore dethe strand wire, substantially as described. scribed. And a modification of the cams 75 4. In a wire fencemachine, a revoluble from the form shown in Fig. 34 to that shown frame comprisin a revoluble shaft, supports in Fig. 34a, to effect a turning movement of l fixedly mounte on said shaft to rotate the coiler heads, in the operation of the modij therewith, a series of twister heads arran ed fied mechanism just described. in op osite pairs and mounted in circumfer- I-Iaving thus fully described my said invenentialpi rows on said supports, each twister tion, what I claim as new and desire to secure j head having an acting end face adapted to by Letters Patent, is engage the ends of the sections of a trans- 1. In a wire fence machine, verse stay wire and coil said ends around the frame, twister heads mounted on theurface strand wires, a series of longitudinally movable rack-bars on said supports, two comof the frame in pairs of opposite rows and eX- tending around the frame and also longitudipanion rack-bars in mesh with two companf ion series of twister heads, the two comnally of the frame, each twister head having an acting end face ada ted to engage the l panion rack-bars having reciprocating moyeends of the sections ofp a transverse stay ments in opposite directions to revolve the wire and coil said ends around the strand companion series ofl twister heads in opporack-bars of two companion rows having reciprocating movements in opposite directions at the same time to actuate in succeseach longitudinal row of twister heads, thel a series ofslotted twister .head brackopposite directions at thev 

